Africa R. Bell

Ms. Bell currently serves as the Port Director at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. In this capacity she leads more than 650 CBP employees in all facets of CBP operations at the Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Port Hueneme seaports. Ms. Bell has oversight of CBP’s enforcement and trade compliance operations related to the processing of nearly 35% of the nation’s containerized sea cargo and the annual processing of over 2 million cruise ship passengers. She has oversight of the Los Angeles Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FP&F) division, encompassing the storage and adjudication of more than $244 million in seized property. Additionally, Ms. Bell directs CBP maritime smuggling interdiction efforts along hundreds of miles of coastline in Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties.

Prior to this assignment, Ms. Bell served as the Director for the Base Metals Center where she managed and directed the enforcement of trade laws and regulations governing the importation process for the base metals industry. During her tenure as Center Director, Ms. Bell completed several temporary duty assignments, to include Acting Assistant Director Field Operations, Trade for the Chicago and San Juan Field Offices, Acting Area Port Director, Chicago, and Acting Director for the Enforcement Operations Division in CBP’s Office of Trade.

Prior to assuming the role of Center Director, Ms. Bell served as Senior Advisor and Acting Deputy Chief of Staff to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Throughout her career, Ms. Bell has supported several trade programs and initiatives to include the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) technical assistance programs.

Ms. Bell is a former Presidential Management Intern and began her career with the U.S. Customs Service through the former Cooperative Education Program. A native of southern California, Ms. Bell earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University at Long Beach.